News

We Answer Your Questions About Roto Moulding

As experts in roto moulding, we often get asked a lot of questions about the process. We’ve had so many, in fact, that we’ve decided to compile a few of the most common ones for you here, so you can get some key information at a glance.

What components are suitable for roto moulding?

Many things! Many, many things. In fact, when it comes to a question like this, it’s actually faster to list just a couple of things that aren’t suitable for rotomoulding instead:

Products required in very high volumes (and we are talking very high: so between something like 100,000 to a million units per year)

Products with ‘tight tolerances’ – in other words, ones with extremely strict design parameters that can’t abide even the most miniscule of variations. (If you’re wondering whether your product has a tight tolerance, chances are that it doesn’t. The typical ‘tight tolerance’ is about 0.002 inches, and the vast majority of designs are more forgiving than that!)

Is rotomoulding cheaper than other processes?

Indeed it is – most of the time. Like anything else, it’s dependent on the project in question, but rotomoulding is perfect for making small to medium batch runs. You can even do a batch as small as ten products, allowing you to get exactly what you need without the prospect of having literally fifty to a hundred spares kicking about once you’re done.

How can I specify the designs for roto-moulding?

At Excelsior we’ll work very closely with you to show you exactly what you want, demonstrating how the project will progress at every stage. We use CAD (computer aided design) drawings so that you can visualize your product well before it goes into physical production. On the whole we find this speeds up the process, makes things clearer for you and ultimately reduces costs.

What kinds of products are most effectively roto molded?

Rotomoulding is perfect for unusual or specialised products. The nature of the process means that it’s fantastic for manufacturing things in one unbroken piece without the need to combine several components. This means there are no seams or stress points on the finished product, making it less vulnerable to cracking or breaking. Fuel tanks and chemical handling containers are just two examples of how products benefit from this sort of process – a crack in either can really ruin your day.

What materials are ideal for roto moulding?

There are a couple: amongst them are cross-linked polyethylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride. There’s a few reasons why for each one, too. Cross-linked polyethylene won’t break or crack on impact in extremely low temperatures, in extremes of up to -25C. Not bad! Polyethylene is known for its versatility – which is why we use it in so many of our own products. High density polyethylene, for example is used a lot in in agricultural products. Meanwhile, polyvinyl chloride is ideally suited for applications that demand a bit of flexibility from time to time.

There’s also the matter of their temperature resistance, which is generally impressive. As ever, there are a couple of factors in play; the product’s resistance depends on both how extreme the temperature is as well as how long it’s actually exposed to it. As a general rule though, polyethylene can manage an enviable 60 degrees Celsius, whereas PVC can manage 40C to 50C. As long as you’re not actually lighting your products on fire, their temperature resistance is generally something you can depend on.

What are the advantages of rotomoulding over other processes?

We’re glad you asked! You might call us biased, but honestly, there’s lots. We’ve devoted an entire blog post to the advantages of roto moulding, which you can read in full here. In short, roto-moulding is cost effective, economical and versatile, and consistently manufactures reliable high-quality products.

So we’ve covered the main questions – but there’s always a chance you might have a few yourself that aren’t covered here. Not to worry; you can always give us a call on 0161 765 2010, or email us on sales@excelsior-ltd.co.uk. We’re here to help!